Switch-box.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

T.J.GLBLAND.

y SWITCH B0X. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1905. I

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THOMAS J. CLELAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application led June 3, 1905. Serial No. 263,577.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnoisrns J. OLELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illino1s, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, tion.

My invention relates to improvements in switches and is particularly designed for use for connecting theatrical circuits, wherein it is necessary to frequently have the switch so arranged that one part may be readily removed from the other in order to permit the shifting and storing of the scenery.

In a modern theater, frequently in the various scenes, it is necessary to have chandelier lights or other lights appearing on the stage, which are generally permanently connected with the parts of the scenery to which they are attached, and are moved with the different parts of scenery when the same are shifted or when the same are stored. Itis, therefore, necessary to have a switch or means for connecting these lights with the supply wires, which consists of two parts, whereby one part may be carried by the scenery and the other part carried by the supply wires, in order that when the scenery is shifted the part of the switch carried thereby may be shifted therewith.

The switches which are at present used, consist generally of an insulating block made of hard rubber or other material, which is provided with plugs connected with the supply wires and a second insulated block of the same material, which is provided with sockets adapted to receive the plugs and which are connected with the other set of wires. When it is desired to connect the lights of the scenery with the supply'circuit, it is merely necessary to insert the plugs of one member 0f the switch into the sockets of the other member and thereby complete the circuit.

arious objections have arisen with respect to this form of switch, namely, that the blocks being of hard rubber are readily broken, especially as these switches when in use are generally lying upon the floor of the stage and it frequently happens that the scenery is rolled over the same or that they are glven other rough usage in the changing of scenery. Furthermore, the contact parts forming a part of this specifica-` are practically exposed and sparks and short circuits may easily occur, readily causing a fire among the scenery. Also as it is almost universal to attach the plugs and sockets to the ends of the wires, any slight pull upon the wire will tend to pull the switch members apart and thereby open the circuit,

and in the movement about the rear of the4 stage, this is apt to happen at the most critical nioment during the play, causing the extinguishing of the lights on the stage.

lt is one of the objects of my invention to overcome the above mentioned objections and to this end I provide a switch, which consists of two members, which are entirely separable from each other, but which, when fastened together, entirely inclose the contact parts in a box-like structure, which may be made of durable material and which will stand any amount of rough usage Without destruction. I also connect the line wires with the two members of the switch in such a manner that no matter what strain may be exerted upon the wires, the members of the switch will not tend to pull apart as the switch opens in a direction transversely to that in which the pull of the wires occurs.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view of my switch, the two parts of the same being secured together; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one member of this switch 5 Fig. 8 is a plan view of the other member of the switch; and, Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention, one member of the switch which, for convenience, will be called the bottom, comprises a rectangular iron box l, which is open at the top and has mounted in the bottom thereof an insulating base 2. This base may be made of any material, although I preferably construct the same of a small marble or slate slab, which is of such a size as to readily fit within the bottom of the box l, and leave a clearance 3 between the inner walls of said box and said base on all sides. The insulating base 2 is preferably secured in the bottom ofthe box by means of screws 4, passing through -the same and screwing into the bottom of the box. These screws are preferably countersunk in the slate base and the heads thereof may be covered with sealing wax or other material to more thoroughly insulate the same, if desired.

Mounted upon the insulating base are two members 5, 5 of a knife switch, which are provided with upwardly extending knife lades 6, adapted to engage and make electrical contact with the switch portions carried by the other member of the switch, as

will more fully hereinafter appear. The members 5 are preferably constructed of copper and are secured upon the base in any deslred manner, as by screws 7 passing through the base and thumb nuts 8 securing the same thereto. An opening'Q is formed in one end of the box through which the electrical conductor cable 10 is adapted to pass. The conduit wires are preferably inclosed in this cable and the ends thereof are stripped and secured within a socket 11 formed upon a copper plate 12. This plate is adapted to fit down over the screw 7 and be held in position against the portion 5 by the thumb nut 8. By this arrangement the conductors may be readily connected to the two switch members. The opposite end of the box 1 has an opening 13, which extends from the top t ereof down to a point'almost in a'plane with the top of the insulating base 2. The two sides of the member 1 are referably cut out', as at 14, aswill more fully hereinafter appear. The second member 15 of the switch, which, for4 convenience, will be termed the top, comprises a rectangular box of substantially the same structure as the box 1, with the exception that the same is small enough to telescope within the member 1. The top also carries an insulating base 15a, mounted therein in the samemanner and of the same construction as is the base 2, and the base carries two members 16, 16, of a knife switch, which has the socket member 17 of the switch mounted thereon. The conductor wires are connected to the switch members in the same manner as are the conductor wires connected to the switch members 5'. The cable carrying the conductor members passes through an opening 18 in the top member, which opening is formed in one end and when the top and bottom are placed in position, is opposite the opening 13 in the bottom portion. The opposite end of the top member also has an opening 19, which is of the same general construction as the opening 13 in the member 1. On each side of the top are formed integrally therewith a pair of lugs 20, which are adapted to be grasped and assist in separating the top and bottom when it is desired to open the switch.

In operation, the top is iitted within the bottom member and telescopes therein., the slot or opening 19 being adapted to fit over the cable 10, which is carried by the bottom member and the slot or opening 13 in the bottom member being adapted to iit over the cable carried by the top member. When the two members are closely fitted together, the knife portion 6 of the switch will' fit within the socket portions 17 of the switch and make electrical contact therewith, whereby the circuit will be closed and the lower ends of the walls of the top portion will 'lit in the clearance between the walls of the 'portion 1 and the insulated base mounted therein, whereby,

due to the friction and to the tightness of the fit, the two members will be held together. The projecting legs 2O will be adapted to fit partially down into the openings 14 and a complete box structure with all the contact portions entirely inclosed will result. By this arrangement the danger of open arcing is absolutely prevented, as the contacting portions are absolutely inclosed within a box-like structure, which may be made of material suI'Iicient to withstand any amount of rough usage. Furthermore, the danger of the two members coming apart is reduced to a minimum as it is di'l'licult to pull the two members' apart by pulling on the cables which are attached thereto. As the inclosing members are preferably made of iron or brass, or other metal, a device of this character may be so constructed as to be practically indestructible and may be kicked about the stage or may be run over by the stage scenery, and may withstand rough usage without being destroyed or without the parts becoming separated.

While I have described one member as being the top member and the other as being the bottom member, it will of course, be understood that this is merely for the purpose of convenience in describing the two parts, as it is immaterial which is the top and which is the bottom member and it will also be understood that while I have described the structure as being rectangularD in shape, the

shape may be changed as desired.

Other changes with respect to details of construction may be also made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' It will be understood also that while I have described my switch as being particularly adaptable for use in theaters, there are numerous places in which the same may be used and I do not wish to be understood as limiting the use of the same in any particular.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent is:

1. In a switch, the combination with a member carrying one switch terminal, of a second member carrying a second switch terminal, said terminals contacting by relative transverse movement of said members, and end walls for each of said members engaging to lock said members against longitudinal strain.

.2. A switch comprising a casing formed of two sections, each section carrying switch terminals and one of the said sections being arranged to close the other transversely, the end Walls of the casing sections engaging to lock the switch terminals against longitudinal strain.

3. A switch comprising a casing formed of two sections, each section carrying a switch terminal, one of said sections being arranged to telescope within the other transversely to the direction in which the supply wires enter the casing to prevent longitudinal strain from opening the casing.

4. A switch comprising a casing formed of two sections, an insulating base arranged in each section and carrying a switch terminal, said sections having openings in the walls thereof, to accommodate conductors,and being arranged to telescope one within the other transversely to the direction in which the slpply wires enter the casing.

n a switch, the combination with a box having a switch terminal arranged therein and a cover therefor having a switch terminal arranged therein, said cover arranged to close the box transversely, the end walls of said box and said cover engaging to lock the same against opening by longitudinal strain.

6. In a switch, the combination with a box having insulated switch terminals, of a telescoping cover therefor having insulated switch terminals, the end members of the box and cover engaging to lock said box and cover against longitudinal strain, and having registering openings to accommodate conductors connected with said switch terminals.

In witness. whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. CLELAN D.

Witnesses:

W. PERRY HAHN, M. R. RooHFoRD. 

